Cutler Bay’s Town Council unanimously voted to support the development of a water trolley service that could take residents from Biscayne National Park to Boca Chita Key and Elliott Key, with a stop at Black Point Park and Marina, during its Dec. 10 meeting at Town Hall.
“I think it would be something interesting to do and would draw more people to our area,” Mayor Peggy Bell said. “I just think that the ability to have more transportation in our area the better. I sit on the transportation committee, and we are trying to find better ways for mass transit. We live so close to the bay, we should be able to access it in the most convenient way. I think it would be a wonderful thing.”
The resolution, sponsored by Bell and council member Sue Ellen Loyzelle, coincides with a resolution adopted by the city of Homestead calling for the development of the water trolley service, which would link to Homestead’s land trolley. The land trolley is a free service that operates from November through April.
“Our friends at Homestead asked if we would help support their resolution, and the town said absolutely,” Town Manager Ralph Casals said. “We are supporting the city of Homestead’s efforts with the water trolley to transport from Boca Chita Key and Biscayne Bay and the parks.”
“It’s the city of Homestead’s process, but we are offering support. Having Black Point there ... you should see both cities working together to try to get that going.”
Land trolley routes provide residents additional transportation to and from Biscayne National Park and Everglades National Park.
“They didn’t have Black Point in their resolution,” Bell said. “I don’t think that they would have a problem with Black Point being added. When I saw what they were putting forward, I didn’t want us to be left out on it. They wanted support, and it’s just the beginning stages.”
Biscayne National Park has more than 500,000 annual visitors, who spend more than $30million and support more than 500 jobs. The park is the largest marine national park in the country, is part of the third-largest coral reef chain in the world, and is home to the longest stretch of mangrove forest on the East Coast.
“We will send our resolution to [Homestead] City Hall so they can put it up as part of their package,” Casals said. “From our standpoint, our council says anything that is some type of mass transit, or moving people, we support.”
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